Senior Arts Manager at British Council in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, IN

We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. For 90 years we have shaped brighter futures through education, arts, culture, language, and creativity.

Working with people in over 200 countries and territories, we are on the ground in more than 100 countries.

We connect. We inspire.

Role Purpose

Are you passionate about using arts and culture to create connections and drive impact?

As the (Senior) Arts Manager, you will lead the delivery of the British Council's Arts programmes in-country, representing our work across the arts and creative industries sector. You will build and manage strategic partnerships, provide sector expertise and insight, and collaborate with colleagues across the global Arts network to deliver high-quality programmes, identify opportunities for growth, and support fundraising and partnership development. Through your leadership, you will help strengthen the British Council's cultural relations impact and profile within the arts and creative industries ecosystem.

Role Accountabilities

Leadership & Management

• Manages relevant Arts portfolio in the country day-to-day ensuring global standards on programme and contract management are achieved.
• Is responsible for assuring quality and impact relating to relevant programmes.
• May line manage members of a small Arts team in country.
• Ensures effective financial management and compliance on relevant Arts portfolio.
• Actively works to mainstream EDI and become anti-racist in our cultures and practices within our organisation and in our programmes.

Strategy and/or Planning

• Supports with planning process for country arts portfolio within the Arts global programme portfolio.
• Manages design, development, delivery and closure of projects and or programmes as needed
• Considers the role of digital products, services and channels in optimising the impact and sustainability of the portfolio, working with marketing and digital colleagues.

Sector/Subject Expertise

• Uses their own expert knowledge on the arts and creative industries, intelligence and insight from other sector stakeholders, opinion formers and funders to support the ongoing development of global arts programmes that meet the specific needs of the country/cluster while also providing value to a diverse range of UK arts and creative industry organisations.
• Through ongoing relationships with the global Arts team, builds and maintains good understanding of UK arts and creative industry sector priorities and HMG priorities.
• Represents British Council in country as a recognised, credible authority in Arts and the creative industries to external stakeholders and audiences.
• Identifies and develops opportunities for the UK Arts sector to work in and collaborate with peers in country

Relationship & Stakeholders

• Builds and maintains a broad, diverse and dynamic network of key creative and cultural sector representatives in country, including artists, creative professionals, creative hubs, arts organisations, arts advocacy groups, intermediary and sector bodies, etc.
• Builds and maintains the sector institutional relationships that will help open doors for artistic collaboration, cultural exchange and creative economy work.
• Represents British Council Arts externally and internally
• Develop and nurtures relationships across Cultural Engagement to ensure strategic objectives are aligned, understood and achieved.

Brand and sector positioning

• Promotes and positions the diversity of the UK arts and creative industries sector in country.
• Ensures that British Council’s reputation for quality and as a valued not-for-profit partner remains high and contributes to our organisational mission of building trust between the UK and other countries.
• Works closely with colleagues and experts in CE to feed sector/customer insights into the programme development planning cycle, to ensure the British Council’s offer is sector relevant for the country and the UK, demand-led and consistent with the British Council and FCDO objectives.
• Contributes to the development of internal and external communications materials to highlight impactful stories from the country Arts portfolio.

Business development

• Contributes to business and partnership development for the portfolio, aligning with country, Arts and CE priorities, systems and processes.

Programme management

• Ensures that agreed activities delivered through the Arts global programmes are tailored to the specific needs of country, through collaboration with colleagues in globally dispersed programme teams.
• Oversees finances of the relevant Arts programmes and can interpret financial information
• Holds delivery partners, team members and consultants to account including supply chain management.
• Where applicable has responsibility for managing all country contractual obligations on programme or project.
• Maintains governance frameworks and manages compliance on a project.
• Oversees procurement, grants management and due diligence on programmes.

Qualification

Essentials

• A University degree or equivalent professional experience in a related field

Experience

Essentials

• Specialist knowledge and understanding of current trends and practices in arts and creative industry in the country
• Experience of managing national arts/ creative industry projects
• Active and up-to-date network of diverse arts sector contacts
• Experience of maintaining effective external and internal programme/project governance structures

Desirables

• Understanding and appreciation of current arts trends and practices in the UK
• Experience of managing international arts projects

Language

The British Council's systems and global processes operate in English. Written and verbal proficiency in English is required.

Important Information

Location- Chennai/ Bangalore

Contract Type- IDC (Indefinite Contract)

Pay Band- 7

Background Checks- Employment with the British Council is subject to satisfactory background checks, both before appointment and periodically during employment, as required. The nature and level of checks will depend on the role and applicable local laws.

Proof of Identity & Right to Work- Applicants must have the legal right to work in the country where the role is based at the time of application and for the duration of employment. Visa sponsorship, immigration support and relocation assistance are not provided for this role. Applications are welcome from candidates currently based in the recruiting country and other British Council country offices, provided they meet the right-to-work requirement.

Closing Date & Time for Applications-

26 October 2026 11:59 IST (Indian Standard Time)

Additional Job requirements Details

Travel and weekend working-

• Regular domestic and international travel alongside attendance at evening and weekend events (not just those led by British Council).
• Working from office is expected at least 3 days a week

A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all sections of the community as we believe that a diverse workforce gives added depth to our work. The British Council is a Disability Confident Employer. The Disability Confident scheme helps challenge attitudes, increase understanding of disability and ensure staff are drawn from the widest possible pool of talent. We guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the minimum role requirements. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.

Safeguarding Statement

The British Council is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults who we work with. We believe that all children and adults everywhere in the world deserve to live in safe environments and have the right to be protected from all forms of abuse, maltreatment and exploitation as set out in article 19, UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) 1989. Appointment to positions where there is direct involvement with vulnerable groups will be dependent on thorough checks being completed in line with legal requirements and with the British Council’s Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.

If you experience any difficulties with submitting your application, please email askhr@britishcouncil.org